Collapsible cardboard display device



Sept, 28, 1943. J. v. HORR COLLAPSIBLE CARDBOARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 31, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fa/En Milan" ATTOE' s "W5 Sept. 28, 1943. J. v. HORR I GOLLAPSIBLE CARDBOARD DiSPLAY DEVICE Filed March 31, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John VHorv' ATTORNE Sept. 28, 1943. v HORR COLLAPSIBLE CARDBOARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 31, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR Jo/ub V.//0z=/' ATTORNE 5' Patented Sept. 28 1943 UNITED was PATENT 'olrs-lc sf vooLLAPsInnis: .cARnBoAnnmsrLAY DEVICE John -V.'-Horr,'North Tarrytown.'Nf u assignorito Einson-Freeman 00., Inc., Long island N. 'Y., a corporation of *Delaware A Application March.31, 1943,?Serial7No.481,241

18 r Claims.

erative set-up condition.

.A more particular object .of my invention is .to provide a device .whose structural nature and surface embellishment is of such a character that when the device is set up it will simulate one .or more commodities or other commercial items. The invention" is primarily applicable @to -.the depiction or representation vof acorhmercial. ,article such as a bottle or the like, whosesimu- ,lation is. capable of accomplishment by forward- ,ly expanding or bulginga normally flat-element .of sheet material. Certain features Of-myLinventionare not necessarily restricted -;to-the sim- -ulation oiany particular type of commodity, .but. ,thegeneral natureand the novel featurespf the vpresent improvement are well exemplified zih a device of the character herein illustratedand-described, by means of which I am enabled -to achieve an attractiveand realistic simulationsof .a plurality-of bottles arranged in superposed tiers. ,7

One of the outstandingadvantageslof thegpresentdmproved structure is its unusuaksimplicity.

flItis composedof relativelyfew elements-offiat cardboardorits equivalent, and the component parts are of simplestructural character-sand are capable of assembly-by simple gluing or.- stapling operations during the course of manufacture.-

The finished article is of ,such 1 a nature that. it

may be collapsed intoa substantially flat condition for purposes .of convenient storage 1311161 shipment. 'iWhen the deviceris to;be used, the parts-swing readily into an adjusted set-up conditionand the device may bezlocked inoperative condition-by an extremely simple ;operationretquiring no particular skill on "the parttof the user.

.The present structure is essentially .of the stepped variety, comprising in .its simplest form aflat element divided by spaeedhinge lines intoiloweruand upper'stepsand an intermediate riser. -Acharacterizing feature of vthe.structure lies inzthe provision of a pair ofsslits .Whichextend across the lower hinge .line, thus...defining between them a strip :Whichjs. adapted .to-.bu ck1e 'forwardly when the-device is set .up. Carried by the -riseris: a normally collapsedbutrexpandable display piece WhlChriS .positionedaso as ;to V bex:encountered by 1 the buck1-ing-;strip, the-:stnp 3 thus serving as a pusher which presses the dis- City (o1.:4o .-12s. I p ayv piece'forwardly j nt y a fd xopemtilve condition. l

lnlthe. preferred embodiment .o'i i lv invention,

.th is stmctural association of ,parts 'isduplicated ,so to provide aseliiesgof successive tiers of d p ay p s ar an d fis sta ered rel t onships. easel of suitable character; preferably including ,a similar strip which is (adapted .to [buckle forwardly and thereby form ,a brace, is 10, associated with .thedevice', as an integral part of the structure.

I a h e h s s ra-loblieolzsfl advan a es ,and such other objects .aniadvantages'. ja'sgmay h einafter b ep nted out, in th gam r i lus- 15 t ve y-ex mb ified in thea0mnan ns drawins ginwhich: .f

Fig. 1 isa front constructed in accordance Qivith the presentinvention, shown imst-up condition; i llig lisaside view of Fig.

Fig, ;3 is atop viewof E'ia;

-.Ei .-4 is ,a side viewsimilar showing .the devicein partially c0l1apsedcondition; Fig. -5.is ,a}plan View of a singleblankof which .partof the. structure of Fig. ljmaybe. composed; Fig..6 is,a .plan .view of a blanlaof whichlthe easelmay'be formed; 1 f l Y (Fig 'lis aplan view Ora bmnhQfwhich the lowermost tier of .display,pieces,shown,Qin,E'i g. 1 maybe-formed; and

I'i 8 'is -a 'cross -sectionallview 'taken substan QF'igures 5, .6 and 7 show certainof-thepasic fiat blanks of cardboard or equivalent material 5 of which the illustrated device ma heiormed.

Referring jfirst to Figure; 5, it .will be. observed that ltheiblank, is 7 provided; with; a series. spaced transverse hinge lines liq; ll,l2', Is and Jlwhich --divide the blank into, hinged pa'nels J5 40 {land-:20. The hinge linestare :s ogfor ned, ,by scoring or otherwise weakening the blank, that the panels are adaptedtds inginto alternate ;-horizo ntal and vertical planes .so, as, to efine a series otsteps.with.risersfbetween the Thus, ithe panel slidefines the IQWESLStGDlkBll panel IS a riser at the rearscf tl1is;,st ep the panel ll {constitutes the next step the nelglfl the riser gat therear of this step,'fa nd,so on.. I havechosen to show, a device .in which there are three steps tively narrow .whilethe risers are relatively high,-

but it-will be'lunderstoofdfihat theinvntiommay beembodied in.devicesihavingf fewer steps,- ,or a ,greater .number. ,of steps gahd in .whieh..the-1il,a-

5 tive sizes are of different. character. Ihavejalso chosen to show a' device .inwhich; the [risers and steps" become,.successivelynarrower. in. an upward direction, because .an ,lattractive dpiction of;.

grouped commodities may,thus be achievedjbut this arrangement "is merely illustrative;

,elevational view of aildevice two pairs in the riser I8, and only one pairin the riser 20. The slits or cuts 2| form one pair in the riser l6, and it will be observed that they extend downwardly across and beyond the hinge line H] to a point 22. I have shown these slits as being parallel and extending upwardly all the way to the hinge line H but it is not necessary for the purposes of the present invention that the slits be absolutely parallel or that they extend all the way to the hinge line H. Between them they define a strip 23 which is adapted to buckle forwardly when the device is set up. To facilitate this action, there is a score line 24 at the lower end of the strip 23 anda transverse'score line 25 near its upper end. Preferably, the distance between the score line 25 and the upper end of the strip 23 is equal to the distance between the score line 24 and the hinge line H). In this way, the forward buckling of the strip 23 when the device is set up presents a pusher portion which is substantially parallel to the plane of the riser l6.

Similarly arranged in theriser l6 are the pairs of slits 2B and 21 which define between them the strips 28 and 29, respectively. Transversehinge lines 30 and 3| facilitate theforward buckling of the strip 28, and the corresponding transverse hinge lines 32 and 33 perform the same function with respect to the strip 29.

In the riser I8 I provide two pairs of slits 34 and 35. pairs of slits extends across and beyond the hinge line I2, and I have shown the slits extending all the way from the hinge line 13 to the hinge line H but it is not absolutely essential for the purposes of the invention that the slits extend upwardlyas far as the hinge line 3 or downwardly as far as the hinge line H. The strip 33 between the slits 34 is providedwith a transverse score line 31, and the strip 38 between the slits is provided with a s;milar transverse score line 39. Preferably, each of the score lines 31 and 39 is thesame distance from the upper end of the strip as the lower end of the strip is from the hinge line l2.

In the upper riser 20 I provide a pair of slits 48 which extend across the hinge line l4 and which terminate, in the illustrated construction, at the hinge line |3. These slits extend upwardly to a point 4| and the upper end of the strip 42 between the slits is defined by a transverse score line 43. An intermediate score line 44 is also provided so as to facilitate the forward buckling of the strip 42. The score line 44 is preferably the same distance from the line 43 as the lower end of the strip 43 (at the hinge I3) is from the hinge line l4.

It will be observed that the pairs of slits in the riser l8 are staggered or oifest with respect to the pairs of slits in the riser I5, and that the same offset relationship exists with respect to the pair of slits 40 in the upper riser 20.

The blank of Figure 5 thus forms the basic stepped structure of the device. When thedevice is collapsed this basic structure assumes the normally fiat disposition shown in Figure 5, all the panels being arranged in a single plane.

, When the device is set up, the blank of Figure 5 adjusts itself into the stepped relationship of panels and parts shown most clearly in Figure It will be observed that each of these which are carried by the respective risers.

2, the representation of these parts in Figure 4 serving to illustrate an intermediate stage of this adjustment. As the panels I5, I! and 2D assume substantially horizontal positions to define the steps, the longitudinal strip portions of each riser buckle forwardly to provide pushers which actupon certain expandable display pieces Several of these display pieces are illustrated in Figure '7, to which attention is now directed.

The blank of Figure 7 is composed of cardboard or equivalent flexible sheet material, preferably somewhat thinner than the stock of which the blank of Figure 5 is made. By means of spaced" substantially parallel fold lines 45, 46, 4! and 48, the blank is divided into sections defining a relatively wide body 49, relatively narrow side pieces at each side of this body, and attachment panels 5| alongside of the side pieces 50. The body 49 is substantially wider than any of the pusher strips of the basic structure, and is shaped into conformity with the general contours of the commodity (such as a bottle) which is to be represented. In the illustrated device, the body 49 is associated with the riser |B so that it overlies the strip 23. This assembly is accom The display piece thus defines a normally collapsed and substantially fiat structure which is nevertheless forwardly expandable (as indicated most clearly in Figure 3) when the pushing or buckling pressure of the strip 23 is exerted upon the rear surface of the body 49. When the device is completely set up, the body 49 bulges convexly forwardly, as shown in Figure 3, and the side pieces 50 converge rearwardly. By suitably embellishin-g the external surface of the body 49 and the side pieces 50, an eflective simulation of a bottle or other commodity may be produced. Preferably, the body 49 extends upwardly beyond the level of the step I'I, thereby completely concealing the strip 23 when the device is set up.

Where more than one display piece is to be employed, as in the case of the three display pieces associated respectively with the pusher strips 23, 28 and 29, they may all be conveniently formed as integral parts of a single blank such as that shown in Figure '7. Thus, the attachment panel 5| is hinged as at 52 to one of the side pieces 53 of the adjacent display piece whose body portion is designated by the reference numeral 54. Similarly, the third display piece comprises the body portion 55 and the hinged side pieces 56, the latter being connected at their overvthe. pusher strip 28, and the body 55 over the pusher strip ,29, and the action of these strips in expanding'the respective display pieces when the device is set up is the same as the action heretofore described in connection with the strip 23 and the body 49. The result is most clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

A blank of material, similar to that of Figure 7,

associated with the vriser '18 is designated in the present drawings "by'the reference numeral-59" and the display piece blank associated with the riser Ellis-designated bythe reference numeral filHsee'Figure 3-).

A ssoc'iated with these operative parts is an easel which is so-constructed that it "may be col- 'lapsed and adjusted into set up condition in a cooperative manner. "composed of 'a blank of relatively heavy card- -board stock or its equivalent, shaped substan- A hinge line Biz- Preferably, the easel .is

tially as shown in Figure 6. serves to-connect the two sections 62 and'63 of the'easel, the section 62 being arranged in a horizontal plane when the device is set up, "and the section 63bein'g arranged in a vertical plane.

Extending across the hinge linefil are the spacedslits 64 which define a strip 65 between them.

Thisstrip is hinged "as at 65 to the section 62, and atfi'l to the section 63. An intermediate transverse score line 68 facilitates the forward buckling of the strip 65whenthesections 62 and" '63 of the easel areadjusted into set up relationship. The strip 65 does not serve as a pusher,

however, but defines a'brace which helps to support the operative portions of the device. More particularly, it will be observed that the hori-" zontal section 62 of the'easel is secured to'the lowest step 15 of the device, while the vertical section -63is securedto the uppermost riser 2n,

the brace 65 being secured to the intermediate riser I8 (see Figures 2 and 8)-. The association of parts is preferably accomplishedby a simple gluing procedure.

With the parts thus assembled, the device adjusts itself readily into'the set-up condition of Figures 2 and 8, an intermediate relationship of parts being represented in "Figure 4. To hold the device in this set-up condition, the easel is provided with at least one bracing winghinged to the upright "section'63 along alongitudinal hingeline. Ihave illustratively shown two brac-v ing wings 69 and Iii hingedto the section 63 along the longitudinal lines and [2 respectively. When these bracing Wings are brought into rearwardly-directed substantially parallel relationship, as shown'in Figures 2 and 8, they,

maybe locked together in any convenient manher as for exampleby means of a tab le hinged I tothe wing at 14, this tab being swung downwardly into a horizontal position and having 'its notched end "[5 brought into engagement with a suitable slot or recess 16 formed in the corresponding portion of the bracing Wing 69.

Preferably, the upright section 63 of the easel is provided with cuts 11 extending inwardly from the hinge lines H and and de 'spect tothis section of the easel that when the "device is set up they dispose themselvesbeneath,

the step 9 (see Figures 2 and 8) so as'to lend added support to the structure at this region.

Fromthe description given, it will be obvious that the device is one which may be conveniently collapsed into a substantially flat condition by into the positionshown inFigure 6, whereupon the entire device-collapsesreadily as indicated in Figure 'At the same time, whehever the devic'e' is to be set up, the parts adjust themselves almost automatically into the'ir operative relation'ships; and with *very' simple manipulation by the. usergwho' needi not be specially skilled, the

device maybe-set up into operative- 'contilition by-merely swinging the =bracingwings 69=and-70 "rearwardly andad-j'usting the tab is into engagement with therecess 16. During the proces's of setting up the device, the display pieces are While 'I have shown a'device in which bottles are depicted," arranged in three tiers' and in staggered-relationships, it w111 "be understood that automatically expanded forwardly as hereinb'eany other commodity or thing may be similarly represented by suitably designing *the shapes of the *operative'portionsof the device and-byprovidin'g suitable" ornamentation or embellishment on the outei' 'surfaces. Itwill alsobeunderstood that the displaypiecesfneed fnot necessarily'be arranged? in three tiers, or even lin L-two' tiers, sincecertain features of the invention are appli- -cable to 'relativelysimple structures in which perhaps one or possibly two of? three commodities' or things are the only' ones depicted.

iHaving'thus described my invention and ill-ustrate'd'itsuse, what'I claim as newa'nd desire to 'secure byLetters Patent is:

1, In a collapsible cardboard display device, a halt el'ernentfdivided :by spaced-"hinge *lines into three panels adapted to define lower and upper steps and an-intermediateriser when the device is set up, said element-having spaced s'lits extending across the lowerhingefline to defin'e' a strip between the slits which buckle's forwardly when the device is set upfand' a normally collapsed but expandable display piece securedto 1 the riser'over'said strip so as to be press'ed forwardly thereby into expanded condition.

'"it bucklesfipresents to the displayspiece a pusher the-idisplay piece" is iexpandedforwardly;

portion substantially parallel to said riser.

"4. In a collapsible display device-, the :combination 'set forthdn claim 1, said display ipiece comprising *agfiexible' body :substantially wider I than said strip, and side: piecesextending from vsaid body to said risen, j j I "a collapsible display device; the combi- 'nation' set forthdn' claim 1 :said display piece comprising. a flexible bodysubstantially-wider than :said strip, and side pieces'iextending. from said body to said riser, said'iside piecesbeing hinged to said. bodyso as 1tolie7flat behind the *side margins of the body when'the' display piece i'si; collapsed and to yconverge rearwardly when 6. In a collapsible display device,the;iicombination iset for-th in claim 1, said display piece comprising a flexible body substantially wider than said strip, side pieces hinged to said body merely disconnecting'the tab 1 3 ethane-assess 16-a*nd-adjusting the bracing wings fill-and '10 and extending from said body to said riser, and

laterally-extending attachment panels hinged to the rear edges of said side pieces. 7

7. In a collapsible cardboard display device, a fiat element divided by spaced hinge lines into three panels adapted todefine lower and upper steps and an intermediate riser when the device is set up, said element having pairs of spaced slits extending across the lower hinge line to define a strip between each pair of slits which buckles forwardly when the device is set up, and a normally collapsed but expandable display piece secured to the riser over each strip so as to be pressed forwardly thereby into expanded condition, said display pieces comprising portions of a single element of fiat stock secured to the riser in the regions between said pairs of slits- 8. In a collapsible cardboard display device, a fiat element divided by spaced hinge lines into three panels adapted to define lower and upper steps and an intermediate riser when the device is set up, said element having pairs of spaced slits extending across the lower hinge line to define a strip between each pair of slits which buckles forwardly when the device is set up, and a normally collapsed but expandable display piece secured to the riser over each strip so as to be pressed forwardly thereby into expanded condition, each display piece comprising a, flexible body substantially wider than the strip it overlies, side pieces hinged to said body at the sides thereof, and laterally extending attachment panels hinged to the rear edges of said side pieces.

9. In a collapsible cardboard display device, a fiat element divided by. spaced hinge lines into three panels adapted to define lower and upper steps and an intermediate riser when the device is set up, said element having pairs of spaced slits extending across the lower hinge line to define a strip between each pair of slits which buckles forwardly when the device is set up, and a normally collapsed but expandable display piece secured to the riser over each strip so as to be pressed forwardly thereby into expanded condition, each display piece comprising a flexible body substantially wider than the strip it overlies, side pieces hinged to said body at the sides thereof, and laterally extending attachment panels hinged to the rear edges of said side pieces, said display piece bodies, side pieces, and attachment panels comprising portions of a single element of fiat stock.

10. In a collapsible cardboard display device, a fiat element divided by spaced hinge lines into four panels adapted to define lower and upper steps and a riser at the rear of each step when the device is set up, said element having a pair of spaced slits extending across the hinge line at the lower end of the lower riser and another pair of spaced slits extending across the hinge line at the lower end of the upper riser, the strip between each pair of slits being adapted to buckle forwardly when the device is set up, and a normally collapsed but expandable display piece secured to each riser over the corresponding strip so as to be pressed forwardly thereby into expanded condition.

11; In a collapsible display device, the combi nation setforth in claim 10, the upper pair of slits being offset with respect to the lower pair and the display pieces being correspondingly offset with respect to each other.

12. In a collapsible cardboard display device,

a flatelement divided by spaced hinge lines into four panels adapted tov define lower and upper steps and a riser at the rear of each step when the device is set up, said element having a pair of spaced slits extending across the hinge line at the lower end of the lower riser and another pair of spaced slits extending across the hinge line at the lower end of the upper riser, the strip between each pair of slits being adapted to buckle forwardly when the device is set up, a normally collapsed but expandable display piece secured to each riser over the corresponding strip soas to be pressed forwardly thereby into expanded condition, and an easel adapted to retain the parts in display relationships when the device is set up.

13. In a collapsible display device, the combination set forth in claim 12, said easel comprising hingedly connected portions one of which is secured to the lower step and the other to the upper riser.

14. In a collapsible cardboard display device, a flat element divided by spaced hinge lines into four panels adapted to define lower and upper steps and a riser at the rear of each step when the device is set up, said element having spaced pairs of spaced slits extending across the hinge line at the lower end of the lower riser and spaced pairs of spaced slits extending across the hinge line at the lower end of the upper riser, the strip between each pair of slits being adapted to buckle forwardly when the device is set up, and'a normally collapsed but expandable display piece secured to each riser over each corresponding strip so as to be pressed forwardly thereby into expanded condition, the upper pairs of slits being staggered with respect to the lower pairs and the display pieces in the upper tier being correspondingly offset with respect to those in the lower tier.-

15. In a collapsible cardboard display device, a flat element divided by spaced transverse hinge lines into panels adapted to swing into alternate horizontal and vertical planes when the device is set up, thereby defining a series of steps with risers between them, and an easel comprising hinged horizontal and upright sections, said easel being provided with a pair of slits extending across the hinge line, the strip between said slits being adapted to buckle forwardly to define a brace, the horizontal section of the easel being secured to the lowest step, the upright section to one of the upper risers, and the brace to one of the intermediate risers.

16. In a collapsible device, the combination set forth in claim 15, said easel being also provided with at least one bracing wing hinged to the upright section along a longitudinalhinge line.

17. In a collapsibledevice, the combination set forth in claim 15, said'easel being also provided with at least one hinged prop adapted to underlie one of the intermediate steps when the device is set up.

18. In a collapsible device, the combination set forth in claim 15, said flat element being provided with pairs of spaced longitudinal slits 'extending across certain of said hinge lines, the strip between each pair of slits being adapted to buckle forwardly to define a pusher, and a normall collapsed but expandable display piece secured over each pusher so as to be pressed for wardly thereby into expanded condition.

JOHN v. HORR. 

